Envelope machine



Oct. 20, 1964 A. NQVI'CK ENVELOPE MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19h 1963 INVENTOR. flaflnmw No w 6K N a y v fin r wk 4 fi @m QB NMATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1964 A. NovmK 3,153,533

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1963 2 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR flBRW/AMNOV/6K WWW/m ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,153,533 ENVELQPE hlAQHlNE Abraham Novick, Flushing, N.Y., assignor to F. L. mithe MachineC0,, Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 19, 1963,Ser. No. 25?,6499 2 Claims. (Cl. 271-2) This invention relates toenvelope making machinery, and more particularly to improvements in pinfeed conveyors used in mach nery of the above type.

The rapid feeding of a multiplicity of fanned out envelope blanks andthe withdrawal thereof was accomplished heretofore by a separatingapparatus such as shown and described in Patent No. 3,012,774, having anassignee and inventor in common with the present invention. In the abovereferred to apparatus, the foremost one of a group of notched lappedenvelope blanks is separated from the group and accelerated in linearspeed into a reduced overlap, aligned relationship for subsequentoperations. The alignment and timing at the accelerated rate of speed isaccomplished by means of a double conveyor chain having pairs of pinsprojecting therefrom for pushing the envelope blank by its trailingflap. The pins of the two conveyor chains contact the envelope blankclosely adjacent the area of the fold notches in the trailing edge ofthe blanks and converge towards the notches to accomplish thesimultaneous transport and alignment of the blanks. The Words reducedoverlap as used in the specification and the claims are intended toencompass the range from a partial overlapping of the blanks to theirbeing spaced apart. The term reduced indicates that the degree ofoverlap of the separated blanks in any case is less than the degree ofoverlap of the group of blanks before separation.

With increased production rates and a corresponding speed increase ofthe envelope making machinery, it was found that the increased aligningpin impact against the envelope blank tended to damage the trailing edgein the notch area. The prior art discloses envelope machines designed toalleviate the damage. In particular, such an apparatus is shown anddescribed in Patent No. 2,101,268, issued December 7, 1937, and havingan assignee and inventor in common with the present invention. Thepresent invention is an improvement over the prior art, as bestrepresented by Patents 2,101,268 and 3,012,774.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved envelopeblank aligning and transporting apparatus for envelope-making machinery,suitable for highspeed operation without damaging the envelope blanks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a twostage alignment andacceleration of the envelope blanks to the desired high rate of speedrequired thereof when traveling through the envelope making machine in ar duced overlap relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved.

means of the character described wherein impact damage to the blank, ifat all, occurs in a non-critical area of the blank substantiallyoutboard of the trailing edge notch area.

Accordingly, an envelope blank separated from a stack of envelopeblanks, or a group of fanned-out envelope blanks is positioned inthepath of a plurality of differential speed timing pins which sequentiallyengage the trailing edge of the blanks. A first set of outer timing pinsengage Patented 9st. 20, 1964 the outer portion of the trailing edge ofthe envelope blanks and move it forward at a given initial rate.Subsequently a second set, or inner timing pins, moving at a speedfaster than the first set of timing pins, takes over and completes thealignment of the blanks While bringing its speed to the desired rate.

In the apparatus of the invention, the speed rate differential betweenthe first set of timing pins and the second set of timing pins isadjusted by means of the cooperation of suitable drive transmissionmechanisms and the relative placement of the various timing pins ontheir respective conveyors.

The various features and advantages of the present invention are to bedescribed in greater detail in the following specification, withreference to the appended drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the improved apparatusaccording to the invention; showing the envelope blanks spaced apartduring the alignment thereof;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View, partly in section, of theapparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic representation of the position of aninner timing pin during initial contact with the envelope blank asindicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation similar to the one shown in FIG. 3,at a later stage of the alignment and acceleration process as indicatedin FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a plurality of envelope blanks in apartial overlap during the alignment thereof.

As shown in the figures, a group 1 of fanned-out envelope blanks 2 ispositioned by a mechanism (not shown) from the direction indicated bythe arrow on the left hand side of FIG. 1, Where a blank separatingapparatus 4 is adapted to separate the topmost blank 2 from the gr up 1and forward it to the aligning apparatus 8, to be discussed in greaterdetail below.

The blank separating apparatus 4 can be of any desired type. Asimplified, preferred embodiment is shown in the present application,however, for example, alterna e separating means are shown in theaforementioned patent. In the present, preferred embodiment, the forwardedge 10 of the topmost blank 2 is partially resting on a backing roller12, mounted on a shaft 13, and the blank 2 is maintained against thebacking roller by holding rollers 14 and 16.

A segment roller 18 is firmly mounted on a shaft 20 and rotated thereby.At a point, adjacent the perimeter of the segment roller 18 a pull-outsegment 22 is attached to the roller.

As the segment roller 18 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG.2, at every turn thereof the pull-out segment 22 contacts the forwardedge 10 of the foremost blank 2, presses it against the backing roller12 and moves the blank in the right hand direction in FIGS. 1 and 2 ontothe aligning apparatus 8.

Since the group 1 of envelopes is delivered to the separating apparatusdin an overlapped relationship, and the aligning apparatus 8 transportsthese envelopes in a nonlapped relationship, the linear speed of theenvelopes on the aligning apparatus is considerably greater than thelinear speed thereof While still in the lapped relation.

The aligning apparatus 8 is built around a central supporting plate 24on which an envelope blank 2-comes to a short, temporary rest afterhaving been separated from the group 1 by the blank separating apparatus4 as previously described. Beside each side of the elongated centralsupporting plate 24 an aligning and transporting chain system ismounted. The aligning chain mounting system consists of a pair of outeraligning chains 26 and 28 and a pair of inner aligning chains 56? and32. The inner aligning chains 3t) and 32 are driven from a motor (notshown) by a drive chain 34 (FIG. 2) engaging a drive sprocket 36(FIG. 1) fastened to a drive shaft 38 by any convenient means, such as aset screw it Similarly attached to the drive shaft 325 are inneraligning chain drive sprockets 42, and 44-. Also attached to the driveshaft 38 is a transmission sprocket d6. Mounted adjacent the drive shaft33 is a drive shaft 4-8 for the outer aligning chains 26 and 23. Afiixedto the shaft 43 is a sprocket 50, which is larger than and connected tothe transmission sprocket 46 by a transmission chain 52.; The sprocketSt) contains a larger number of teeth than the transmission sprocket 46,so that the rotation of the shaft 48 is proportionately slower than therotation of the drive shaft 38. Also mounted on the shaft 48 are drivesprockets 5d and 56 for the outer aligning chains 2-5 and 23.

The outer aligning chains 26 and 28, and the inner aligning chains 35and 32 are endless chains supported on their other ends respectively byidler sprockets 58, 6t), 62 and 64, fioatingly mounted for rotation onan idler shift 66.

Outer aligning pins 68 and 7 ii are attached to the outer aligningchains 26 and 28 in a parallel spaced relationship. Similarly, inneraligning pins 72 and 74- are mounted onto the inner aligning chains 33and 32. As can be readily seen, the outer aligning chains 26 and 23 moveat a somewhat slower rate than the inner aligning chains 3t) and 32, asdetermined by the size difference between the transmission sprocket 4-6and the sprocket 5t To assure that at all times an envelope blank ispositioned into the aligning apparatus and that the first contact is bythe outer aligning pins 6% and 7t) and only subsequently contacted andaccelerated by the inner aligning pins 72 and 74, the outer aligningpins 63 and 79 are spaced closer to each other on their conveyor chains26 and 28 than the inner aligning pins 72 and 74 on their respectivefaster moving conveyor chains 31 and 32. By this provision it can beaccomplished that the outer aligning pins 68 and 7d of the slower movingconveyor chains 26 and 23 will first contact the envelope blank to beaccelerated and aligned.

It can also be seen by reference to FIG. 1, that the chains 26 and 34 onone side of the plate converge as they move in the right hand directiontowards the chains 28 and 32 on the other side of the plate 24 (i.e.,the respective distances between the respective idler sprockets 5864 aregreater than the respective distances of the drive sprockets d2, 44 and54, 56). This means that the aligning pins 67, 7t), 72, '74 areconstantly converging in their move in the right hand direction towardsthe central plate 24. The degree of converging can be adjusted either byshifting the driving sprockets 42, 44 and 54, 56 on the respectiveshafts 38 and 43, or by shifting the floating idler sprockets 58-64sideways on their shaft 66.

As an envelope blank 2 is ejected onto the central supporting plate 24by the blank separating apparatus it is not easy to assure that theblank 2 will land in a perfectly aligned position. It may deviate fromthe ideal aligned position in two aspects, by being laterally displaced,i.e., the centerline of the blank is parallel spaced from the centerlineof the plate 24 or by being angularly misaligned, i.e., the centerlineof the blank intersects the centerline of the plate 24.

The outer aligning pins 68 and 7d first contacting an envelope blank 2ejected onto the center supporting plate 24 have the primary purpose ofproviding an initial acceleration for the stationary or slightly movingenvelope blank 2. This is accomplished without any damage to thetrailing edge of the envelope blank due to the impact of the pins 68 and70 upon the trailing edge of the envelope blank 2, since they contactthe blank with such a small impact so as to avoid damage thereto. Thepins 68 and 7d contact the blank 2 only for a relatively short period,during which the initial acceleration is accomplished. During thisperiod a certain degree of pre-alignment of the blank 2 may beaccomplished. As the faster moving inner aligning pins 72 and 74- takeover, their impact upon the accelerated envelope blank will not resultin any damage due to the blank having been already initially acceleratedby pins 63 and 70. At this take over point the envelope starts to moveat a faster rate, whereby the convergence of the pins 72 and 74 towardsthe centerline of the central supporting plate 2 4 completes thealignment of the blank both from its angular and lateral dis placement.

By the time the pins 72 and 74- have reached the line of the shaft 38,the pins 72 and 7 2 have converged into a corner formed at the pointwhere the sealing edge 76 of the blank 2 joins the rest of the trailingedge of the blank. The converging lateral travel of the aligning pinscan be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, FIG. 3 showing the distance D between theimpact point of the pin 72 and the corner at the sealing flap 76, and inFIG. 4 the distance D is shown to have diminished at the point of thetravel of the blank where the aligning pins 72 and 74 separate from itand the chains turn down for their return trip, the distance D beingsubstantially equal to the radius of the aligning pins, therebyindicating that the aligning pins converged laterally into the corner ofthe sealing flap. This way, the alignment is accomplished by means ofthe converging pins in a known manner, and the centerline of the blank 2will substantially parallel the centerline of the central supportingplate 24.

By the time the blank 2 is completely aligned and the aligning pins 72and 74 separate therefrom in line with the shaft 33, the forwarding ofthe aligned blank is con tinued by means (not shown) adapted to grab themoving aligned blank by its leading edge.

From the point of view of the present invention it is immaterial whetherthe group of envelope blanks from which the blanks are to beindividualized and aligned is fanned out, as in the present embodiment,or in a completely overlapped stack, moving or stationary; any change inthe above conditions from the one shown in the preferred embodiment,described in the preceding, would require merely the use of a blankseparating apparatus other than the apparatus 4, described above. Bycomparison of FIGS. 1 and 5 it will become apparent that the envelopeblanks may be partially overlapped as shown in FIG. 5, during the stepsof conveying and alignment or may be spaced apart, as shown in FIG. 1.

It is to be understood that while only a specific envelope blank shapeis shown in the drawing, the apparatus described can be used inconjunction with any other desired envelope shape. Similarly, the speedof the envelope blank separating apparatus 4, the outer chains 26 and28, the inner aligning chains 3t) and 32 and the respective relativespacing of the timing pins 68'74 can be varied to any desired degree toobtain optimum operation. Similarly, the degree of convergence of thevarious aligning chains 26-32 and the speed differential between thesechains can be varied according to the desire without departing from thespirit of the present invention.

It is also to be understood that the invention was described by aspecific embodiment thereof, and, therefore, its scope is to beinterpreted from the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an envelope-making machine, the combination including a timing andaligning mechanism, envelope blank separating means for accelerating theleading envelope blank from a moving line of envelope blanks anddepositing it upon said timing and aligning mechanism, said envelopeblank having fold notches in its trailing edge,

5 said timing and aligning mechanism including; an elongated supportingplate, an outer pair of endless chains and pins carried by the chainsand engageable with the trailing edge of the blank to continue itsforward movement, said pins engaging said blank at points other thansaid fold notches, an inner, converging pair of endless chains driven ata higher speed than said outer pair of chains and pins on the innerchains for overtaking the blank, engaging the trailing edge thereof andtaking over control of the blank from the outer pair of chains and pins,said inner pair of chains being substantially equal in length to each ofsaid outer pair of chains, said inner pair of chains being aligned toallow the pins thereon to 6 move inwardly along the trailing edge of theenvelope blank to finally come to rest against said fold notches. 2. Anenvelope-making machine as in claim 1, wherein said outer pair of chainsconverge and said envelope-blank eparating means deposits the envelopeblank on said supporting plate in partial overlapping relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NovickDec. 7, 193'] 2,799,497 Novick July 16, 1957 3,012,774 Novick Dec. 12,1961 3,044,767 Winkler et a1 July 17, 1962

1. IN AN ENVELOPE-MAKING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION INCLUDING A TIMING ANDALIGNING MECHANISM, ENVELOPE BLANK SEPARATING MEANS FOR ACCELERATING THELEADING ENVELOPE BLANK FROM A MOVING LINE OF ENVELOPE BLANKS ANDDEPOSITING IT UPON SAID TIMING AND ALIGNING MECHANISM, SAID ENVELOPEBLANK HAVING FOLD NOTCHES IN ITS TRAILING EDGE, SAID TIMING AND ALIGNINGMECHANISM INCLUDING; AN ELONGATED SUPPORTING PLATE, AN OUTER PAIR OFENDLESS CHAINS AND PINS CARRIED BY THE CHAINS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THETRAILING EDGE OF THE BLANK TO CONTINUE ITS FORWARD MOVEMENT, SAID PINSENGAGING SAID BLANK AT POINTS OTHER THAN SAID FOLD NOTCHES, AN INNER,CONVERGING PAIR OF ENDLESS CHAINS DRIVEN AT A HIGHER SPEED THAN SAIDOUTER PAIR OF CHAINS AND PINS ON THE INNER CHAINS FOR OVERTAKING THEBLANK, ENGAGING THE TRAILING EDGE THEREOF AND TAKING OVER CONTROL OF THEBLANK FROM THE OUTER PAIR OF CHAINS AND PINS, SAID INNER PAIR OF CHAINSBEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL IN LENGTH TO EACH OF SAID OUTER PAIR OFCHAINS, SAID INNER PAIR OF CHAINS BEING ALIGNED TO ALLOW THE PINSTHEREON TO MOVE INWARDLY ALONG THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE ENVELOPE BLANKTO FINALLY COME TO REST AGAINST SAID FOLD NOTCHES.